Inspiring Civil Rights history

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Zoom out. What’s this place all about?Much like the leader who inspired it, this national monument has a big impact. Located in the historic Sweet Auburn District downtown, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park goes on and on. It includes Dr. King’s birthplace at 501 Auburn Avenue, the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the final resting place of King and his wife, Coretta Scott King. In 2004, the site added the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, which honors some additional Civil Rights activists and showcases their actual footsteps in granite and bronze. The Eternal Flame there bears the inscription, “The Eternal Flame symbolizes the continuing effort to realize Dr. King’s ideals for the ‘Beloved Community’ which requires lasting commitment that cannot weaken when faced with obstacles.” Admission to the site is free and almost guaranteed to provoke thoughtful discussion among any group of visitors. Note: tours of the birth home are free but limited to 15 guests at a time with a National Park Service guide. Registration is first-come, first-served, and must be made in person.

Defining mood: somber reflection, spirit-lifting awe, or nerdish curiosity?When considering the great leader our nation lost, it's impossible not to approach this place with a certain reverence and sadness. The curators, however, have designed the site to be encouraging, too, motivating guests to live out King's deals of equality and harmony. You'll probably feel uplifted by the time you leave.

Who comes here and why?Because this attraction is free, some people come just for a little while to draw strength and inspiration from being in the presence of such a great man of history. Others, particularly those visiting for the first time, hunker down and explore slowly. There's no right or wrong way to do it.

Overall, what was the most important takeaway?Dr. King, who was and continues to be a hero to so many, would likely be proud of this site in his honor. While all elements of the site—including his birth home, the baptist church where King delivered his first sermon in 1947, and the “I Have a Dream” World Peace Rose Garden—are impactful, perhaps the most awe-inspiring is The King Center, that King’s wife Coretta Scott King founded in 1968. There you’ll find exhibits on him and other great human rights advocates (including Mahatma Gandhi and Rosa Parks), as well as the artifacts from his life.